Why Healing Your Gut is the Key to Lowering Your Thyroid Antibodies

Welcome to Healthy Gut Healthy Thyroid!

This is your weekly roundup of the BEST actionable steps for those people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions who want to restore their health…by healing their gut. Whether you have hyperthyroidism or Hashimoto’s you will benefit from the content in this newsletter.

In today's issue:

• Main Topic: Why Healing Your Gut is the Key to Lowering Your Thyroid Antibodies

• Podcast Review: From Cancer to Hashimoto’s: Dr. Erin Ellis' Healing Journey

• Ask Dr. Eric: Keeping Your Thyroid and Gut Healthy During the Holidays

Why Healing Your Gut is the Key to Lowering Your Thyroid Antibodies

Since 2009, I’ve worked with thousands of thyroid patients—and normalizing thyroid antibodies remains one of the most challenging aspects. On average, it takes 6 to 12 months, but for some people, it can take even longer.

The biggest challenge? Identifying and removing the underlying triggers.

Many people rely on dietary changes alone—such as going gluten-free or following an AIP (Autoimmune Paleo) diet—but this often isn’t enough. As I explain in my book The Hyperthyroid Healing Diet, you may need to dig deeper using functional medicine testing to uncover hidden triggers. Even then, the process takes time and patience.

Autoimmune Triggers vs. Gut-Disrupting Triggers

Here’s where it gets even more complex: not all autoimmune triggers are gut-disrupting, and not all gut-disrupting factors directly cause an autoimmune response.

Take gluten for example. It’s both an autoimmune trigger and a gut disruptor. It can increase gut permeability and, in those with thyroid autoimmunity, directly provoke the immune system.

On the other hand, something like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may not directly trigger autoimmunity—but it still disrupts gut function, impairs nutrient absorption, and drives inflammation, which can perpetuate immune dysfunction.

Here’s a breakdown of common triggers:

Autoimmune Triggers

✅ Gluten

✅ Chronic stress

✅ Mercury

✅ Xenoestrogens

✅ Cigarette smoke

✅ Radiation

✅ Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)

✅ COVID-19

✅ H. pylori

✅ Lyme and coinfections

✅ Iodine (excessive intake)

Gut-Disrupting Triggers

✅ Gluten

✅ Alcohol

✅ Chronic stress

✅ Glyphosate

✅ Antibiotics

✅ Antithyroid medication

✅ Mycotoxins (from mold)

✅ Microplastics

✅ SIBO

✅ Candida overgrowth

✅ Parasites

✅ H. pylori

As you can see, there’s considerable overlap—especially with gluten, stress, and H. pylori. These are major players and should be prioritized in any gut-healing strategy.

What About Molecular Mimicry?

You may be wondering how infections like H. pylori can contribute to thyroid autoimmunity. One proposed mechanism is molecular mimicry.

This occurs when the immune system mistakes your own tissues for an invader due to structural similarities between microbial proteins and your own.¹ For example, with H. pylori, studies suggest similarities between bacterial antigens and thyroid tissue may trigger or exacerbate an autoimmune response.²

Final Thoughts

If you’re struggling to lower your thyroid antibodies, it’s essential not to overlook the gut. While removing autoimmune triggers is key, restoring gut integrity is just as important and can be the missing link.

Healing the gut isn’t just about diet. It involves removing hidden infections, reducing toxic exposure, rebalancing the microbiome, restoring digestive function, and supporting the gut lining.

Not All Gut Healing Supplements Are The Same

Since most of the immune cells are located in the gut, a healthy gut is essential for a healthy immune system. In fact, Hippocrates himself said that “all disease begins in the gut”. And so whether someone has Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or another health condition, having a healthy gut is important to achieve optimal health.

When choosing a gut healing supplement you want one that does the following:

• Promotes optimal function of the GI lining

• Rejuvenates health of intestinal mucosa

• Supports healthy inflammatory response

• Builds immune support

• Thyroid-friendly ingredients

The Gut Healing Bundle includes the following:

SMT-GI Restore. Combines effective clinical levels of well-researched (and thyroid-friendly) nutrients and botanicals specifically formulated to support optimal gastrointestinal health and function without any added flavors, colors, sweeteners, gums or common allergens.

Enzymes Plus. Comprised of a proprietary blend of digestive enzymes along with betaine HCL and ox bile to support optimal digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Also contains the special protease DPP IV (dipeptidyl peptidase IV), which aids in the breakdown of the peptides gluteomorphin (from gluten) and casomorphin (from casein). Although you don’t need to be experiencing digestive symptoms to use Enzymes Plus, it may be helpful for those who experience gas and bloating after eating, occasional constipation or diarrhea, or a feeling of fullness after eating.

SMT-Probio. Choosing a good quality and effective probiotic can be a challenge, as there are so many probiotic supplements on the market. Unfortunately many probiotic supplements only list the species, and not the specific strains. Others list the strains but aren’t diverse or potent enough. SMT-Probio Complete provide 18 different strains belonging to 13 different species of three different genera. For consumer convenience, this formula is available encapsulated at a maintenance dose of 45 billion CFUs per capsule. The HOWARU and FloraFIT strains that comprise these formulas are stable, proven, and trusted worldwide.

To learn more about The Gut Healing Bundle visit www.guthealingbundle.com

Save My Thyroid Podcast Review

I have a podcast called "Save My Thyroid", where I discuss how people with hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto's can save their thyroid and regain their health. And during each edition of this newsletter I'll briefly discuss a recent podcast episode.

In a recent podcast episode I chatted with Dr. Erin Ellis about how her health journey from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma to Hashimoto’s completely reshaped how she approaches healing. We talk about her path from cancer survivor to women’s hormone specialist, and how she uncovered the deeper connections between thyroid autoimmunity, toxins, and genetic vulnerability.

Dr. Ellis shares what helped her normalize Hashimoto’s antibodies, the foundational steps she teaches her patients, and why true recovery often begins with something as simple as sleep, food quality, and reducing toxic load. Her story is a powerful reminder that the body can heal when we understand why it’s reacting, not just how to suppress symptoms.

This conversation might help you see your symptoms in a completely new way. Listen now!

Ask Dr. Eric

During every issue I'll answer a question or two that I think can benefit most people with a thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition. If you'd like for me to consider your question for a future edition of this newsletter email your question to [email protected].

QUESTION: HOW DO I KEEP MY THYROID & GUT HEALTHY DURING THE HOLIDAYS?

Dr. Eric, I’m sure you have other clients who struggle to eat healthy during the holidays, and I wanted to know if you have any tips to maintain a healthy thyroid and gut during the holiday season?

Thanks for your question! I understand that it can be challenging to eat healthy during the holiday season, and while for many people it definitely takes some willpower to stick with a healthy diet, here are some tips to maintain a healthy gut and thyroid from Thanksgiving through Christmas:

Be Prepared When Eating Away From Home. At home, sticking to your diet is easy. The real challenge is eating with friends, family, or while traveling.

✔️ Bring your own dish if needed.

✔️ Politely explain your dietary needs—even to close family members.

✔️ Don’t sacrifice your health to avoid “offending” a host.

Don’t Let Small Cheats Derail You. Even a “small” amount of gluten, dairy, or other trigger foods can cause inflammation for many people.

✔️ A few bites of dessert may seem harmless, but it can still cause a reaction.

✔️ Choose healthier versions of favorite treats—preferably ones that meet your dietary plan (e.g., AIP recipes).

✔️ Remember: gluten-free doesn’t always mean healthy.

Eating Out: Plan Ahead. Dining out is harder, but still possible.

✔️ Look at menus in advance.

✔️ Call restaurants to ask about ingredients or cross-contamination.

✔️ Apps like Find Me Gluten Free can help you identify safer places (though reviews vary).

Strengthen Your Willpower Before You Go. Decide before you leave the house that you won’t cheat. Visualize yourself choosing healthy foods, and remind yourself why it matters. A firm decision ahead of time makes it much easier to stick with your plan when temptation shows up.

Traveling During the Holidays. Travel can be the biggest challenge, so set yourself up for success:

✔️ Stay somewhere with a kitchen or kitchenette.

✔️ Limit restaurant meals and research them in advance.

✔️ Bring healthy snacks and find a nearby grocery store.

✔️ Expect social pressure from travel companions—prepare to hold your boundaries.

Stay Consistent, No Matter the Occasion. There will always be birthdays, vacations, and celebrations. Don’t let events become excuses. The payoff for consistency is huge: while many people start January feeling unhealthy and sluggish, you’ll begin the new year already on track.

The most important strategy is simple: plan ahead—especially when you’ll be eating outside your home.

Additional Thyroid-Related Resources

Click Here for From Cancer To Hashimoto’s: Dr. Erin Ellis’ Healing Journey (episode 222)

Click Here to access hundreds of thyroid-related articles and blog posts

Click Here to join the Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s community

Click Here to purchase one of Dr. Eric’s thyroid-related books

Click Here to work with Dr. Eric and his team

📚References:

(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30509385/ 

(2) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7167994/

That’s a wrap